UConn Must Be Careful With Rutgers' Offense

It might not have the numbers of the defense, which is tied for 10th in the nation in points allowed per game, but that doesn't mean it can't cause damage when the teams meet for the 32nd time Saturday at High Point Solutions Stadium (noon, ESPNU). No. 22 Rutgers is 4-0, 1-0 in the Big East. UConn is 3-2 and playing its Big East opener.

With a running game ranked 73rd and a passing attack rated 55th, one might think the Rutgers offense would not be much of a problem. Think again, because right now it's complementary to the defense and consistent enough to take the program places it has never been.

Think about how off-the-mark the UConn defense has appeared in its last two games as opposed to the first three. Think specifically about the fourth-quarter performance Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova had in relief in a 40-22 loss to the Huskies last year. Then think about the maturation of the players around Nova, and guess what? Potential problem.

"We just have to do our deal and do it to the best of our ability," UConn defensive coordinator Don Brown said. "You know, the one thing we've been able to do, going [back to] last week as well as the week before, if you look at our percentages [completions allowed and attempts] ... 21 of 40 against Western Michigan and last week, 13 of 30, and we're playing a lot of close coverage. Our guys line up [close] like this a lot. ... We've just got to continue to work hard on our techniques and fundamentals.

"They've got talent. Receivers [Brandon] Coleman is a talent. [Mark Harrison] is a talent. [Tim Wright] is a talent. Harrison makes the big catch to kind of ice the Arkansas game for them. [Jawan] Jamison is a great back, so you've got to defend the pass, but you also got to take care of the run. You can't let them start running the ball up and down the field on you, so it will be a good chess match for us."

Check out the balance among the receivers: Wright has caught the most passes (18) for the most yards (228). Harrison, who is from Stratford and the cousin of former UConn receiver Marcus Easley, has 17 for 165 and has caught the longest pass (60). Coleman (12 for 207) has caught the most touchdown passes (five).

Jamison is averaging 122.8 yards on the ground, and Nova (74 of 124, 962 yards) has thrown nine TDs to just two interceptions while completing just shy of 60 percent of his passes.

All that being said, the Rutgers offense is going to face a nationally ranked defense — one that knocked Jamison out of the game in the first half last season and one that has been knocking running backs out period this season. So, too, has Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights (62.50 yards allowed) are No.1 in the nation against the run. UConn is No. 6 (74.20).

More important, the Huskies are No. 14 against the pass (168.40) and they should get incentive from facing this group of receivers.

"Honestly, I don't think it really matters who we go against," said senior cornerback Dwayne Gratz. "The coaches do a good enough job getting us prepared for who we're going to play. We don't worry about that type of stuff. It doesn't matter who is across from us. We just do our jobs."

You might want to excuse Gratz for being a little short. He's from Piscataway, N.J., and just a little torqued up this week.

Needless to say, he's looking forward to the challenge he faces. For that matter, the whole secondary should be looking forward to the challenge.

"Any time you get that kind of challenge, to you, as a defensive back, you sit up in your chair, stand up tall and you get yourself ready for the matchup," safeties coach Darrell Perkins said. "It's a situation where you want to play the best every week, and you talk about being the best, so in a game like this, you look to get their best and you want to be at your best. If you're a player, you look forward to that challenge."

Lastly, the Huskies do have some familiarity with Nova — some good and some not so good.

The sophomore from Don Bosco (N.J.) Prep came on in the fourth quarter in last year's blowout at Rentschler Field last season and put up some numbers in 15 minutes: 11 of 18, a then-career-high 298 yards, two TDs, but two interceptions.

"He did a couple good things," Brown said. "He also threw the ball to us. He's way farther along now. He's gone through a spring practice. He's gone through a training camp. He's played four games. Obviously, he's had success, so his confidence is rising every week. I don't think last year's game has any bearing on this year's game."

Tickets, Band Update

UConn received 3,000 tickets for the game and some were returned, according to Rutgers officials. ... The UConn band can't perform at the game, Rutgers officials said, because several organizations are being honored at halftime, leaving no time for the band to perform.